Disclaimer: As I said... J.K.ROWLING .. I dun have either J or K or a Rowling in my name. So thank her! If not for her, neither Severus Snape or Hermione Granger exist..lol...

Chapter 6: The Recovery

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(Present day at Grimmauld Place)

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Hermione sat beside him on the bed. Two weeks ago, he was his own self. He had been with her, laughing with her, making love to her and was there for her. It was after they arrived on Hogwarts ground that unfateful day did she notice a change in him. When Poppy brought him into the hospital ward did her fears finally came true. She had been praying that the spell didn't affect him, she had been praying. But it was too late. It did affect him. She remembered the spell. She knew what it meant. She closed her eyes as her mind transitioned back and forth between her and Lucius Malfoy.

"Atrum Dominus largior veneficus in mihi efficio ita!"

"The Dark Lord bestow, caster of spells, upon me to do so.."

"Erado suum animus, everto suus animum!"

"Erase his memory, Ruin his mind..."

"Accido panton quatenus est inquit"

"Destroy everything that is he..."

"Deleo suus memoria!!"

"Destroy his memory..."

Hermione leaned forward and broke down in her hands. Severus was no longer the man he was when they brought him to stay at The Burrow. He woke up a week later, not recognizing anyone in the room.. not even Dumbledore. He thought that they were there to kill him, protecting himself from the rest of them. He was perched on the corner end of his bed, shouting and screaming at anyone who dares to move forward towards him. It was after they had managed to coax him to drink the Dreamless Sleep did he set his guard down and drank the whole thing.

Hermione looked down on the sleeping face. Why hadn't she follow what he said. Why had she insisted on going down to Knockturn Alley with him! If she had just follow what he said and waited at the Three Broomsticks, nothing like this would have happened. It was her fault! She blamed herself as she saw him went hystercial on his bed. She blamed herself when he calmed down and slept through the whole week. She blamed herself as she saw his pale face contort in pain as he went through nightmares. How she wished she could go back in time to change everything. She could, actually, but unfortunately her time turner leapt out of her hands and crashed onto the floor as Tonks had accidentally bumped into her once during their Order days.

She stood up and walked out, going down to the kitchen. Its really sad to see, such a great and powerful wizard of their time, not remembering anything about himself. Magic, Wizard, Witches and all.. never existed to him. He was living the muggle world now, which is clearly heartwrenching for everyone. Even for Ron and Harry. They missed his sneering and scathing remarks about them. Sirius and Remus too had trouble but they try so hard to remind him of who he was. After staying at The Burrow, Sirius insisted that Hermione could stay at Grimmauld Place for the moment while waiting for Snape to recover. Hermione was grateful for the fact that One, Sirius gave Hermione a place to stay at his home and Two, he even was willing to put up with Snape, his old time enemy, helping her with the recovery of Snape. He even packed a few clothes for Severus to wear and Remus managed to get a few of his wardrobe from the Dungeons.

"Hey Snivelly, its me Sirius. You remember I used to call you Snivelly? During the start of the term until now? Remember? In the train, Me and James were making fun of you, calling you Snivellus and such, in school we used to send each other hexes and curses as if it was love letters, remember?" Sirius asked, sitting on the edge of Severus's bed. Severus was still in the corner of his bed, shaking his head at Sirius. Remus came up behind Sirius and looked down at Severus. He was pale. Too pale. Even the werewolf had more color in his cheeks than the Potion Master. Sirius rolled his eyes at him.

"Oh come on! You used to hex us with deadly curses and you were weird during your teenage years. Your 'Sectumsempra' curse left marks on all of us! Here! See!" Sirius lifted his shirt up and Severus could see a long, healed gash on his rib. Severus winced and closed his eyes. He hugged his knees closer to his chest and shook his head. Remus place his hand on Sirius shoulder, who was now setting his shirt back down and frowning.

"You really don't remember, do you?" Sirius whispered. Severus open his eyes slowly and look up at Sirius, shaking his head slowly. Sirius gave a defeated sigh and look down.

"You know, when something like this were to happen to you, I would have been glad. Overjoyed, actually. We were such great enemies then. But now... I just don't have the heart to do so.. Seeing you like this.. its - just... just... " Sirius got up and look out the window. Damn it, why the emotions? Emotions for this git? Whats this? Oh great.. I'm crying over the git.

Severus saw Sirius got up and walk away and he shook his head again. Why can't he remember anything? He felt a strange connection with Sirius but it was something negative. Probably its because that they were enemies before that? Why were they enemies? Sirius looked like a good guy. Hmmm...

Remus smiled at Severus and nodded once.

"Severus, My name is Remus J. Lupin, do you recognise me? Ah, Nevermind about that.. We used to be in the same school together with Sirius, Peter Pettigrew and James Potter. James Potter? You remember him?"

Severus shook his head again, frowning. Remus laughed out loud, while Sirius merely scoffed.

"You don't remember James Potter? Thats an evolution..." Muttered Sirius. Remus smile and shook his head.

"It don't matter. Anyways, You and me were once colleagues. You were teaching Potions in Hogwarts and I was teaching Defence Against the Dark Art, which you were after the position for years. Before that we were in the Order of the Phoenix. Its somewhat a secret society in trying to rid of Lord Voldermort -" Remus was interrupted by Severus.

"Lord Voldermort..." Severus said, tilting his head sideways, "..The Dark Lord?" he asked Remus. Remus straightened up a little as Sirius turns abruptly at the both of them.

"Yes.. Yes, The Dark Lord! You remember him?" Remus asked.

Severus merely made faces before shaking his head again.

"Not really. I heard the girl told me about him before. That I was his spy?"

Remus gave a sigh and paused. Sirius sat down on the edge of the bed, face in his hands.

"Yes, you were. You were an excellent one too. You worked for both Dumbledore and Voldermort, and you were great at it. You were the most powerful wizard of all time too."

"Yes.. I know. The girl told me."

"Which girl?"

"The girl.. with.. bushy, brown hair. She always seem so sad when she was with me, but she kept smilling.." Severus look up at Remus, "..Who was she to me?" he asked.

Remus's smile faltered a little as he looked past Severus, a little dazed.

"She was your better half... You loved her with all your life.. and she, you." Remus said, softly.

Severus went on hugging his legs closer to his chest, rocking back and forth.

"She blames herself for what had happened to you. She kept saying that if she hadn't go against your word and didn't follow you instead, you wouldn't have be like this. She blames herself for not being able to save you... she is trying so hard to get you back to be whoever you were. Not that I hate it, but I just can't stand seeing you like this. Not snapping at me, trying to kill me with all your hexes.." Sirius said. "Its - irritating. I like you better when you the were the sneering, drawling, sarcastic bastard."

"Wh- What??"

Severus raised his eyebrows in surprised while Remus merely chuckled.

"I'm serious.. I missed your sneer. Oh crap, what am I saying??" Sirius groaned and smacked his palm on his forehead and winced when the pain seared through him, causing Remus to chuckle again. The door to the room opened and the Golden Trio came in, looking a little unsure. Remus tapped on Sirius's shoulder and nodded to Severus and then back at the Golden Trio.

"Well, we better make a move then. Sirius?"

"Yea, Yea.. Even though he lost his memory, he still didn't lose his touch in draining my energy. See you guys later."

Sirius and Remus walked past by them, both stopping near Hermione and gave her a assuring smile, before walking off. The trio stood by the door, looking at Severus. Severus looked back at them. Finally, it was Hermione who moved forward and sat on the edge of his bed, smilling.

"Hey, how are you feeling?"

"Tired, but am alright."

"Good to hear that."

Severus gestured with a jerk of his head at both Ron and Harry. "Who are they?"

Hermione was about to answer when she heard Ron coughed out loudly. She turned to see Harry smacking on Rons' back, who was choking. Hermione got up quickly and set a glass of water in his hand, seeing him gulped down in one go. Finally, when he calmed down, he looked extremely bewildered.

"Blimey, Harry! Did you hear him? He asked who we were!" Ron said, looking at both Harry and Hermione before back at Severus. "Mental, isn't it?

"Ron, stop it." Harry said, seeing Hermione shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other.

"Am I suppose to know who you two were?" Severus asked.

"Well, it depends... really." Ron said. "I mean, you were always bringing us down with your remarks in Potions class. And outside class, you were no different. I'm Ron Weasley, This is Harry Potter.. HAIR-REEE POOH-TEER"

"Ron, he just lost his memory, not his sense of understanding and knowledge. Get a grip of yourself!" Hermione hissed.

"Sorry, I wanted to see his reaction towards Harry." Ron said, shrugging.

"And that reaction would be?" Harry asked.

" I don't know.. distaste.. hate.. loathe.. detest.. antipathy towards you.. sense of revulsion.. the desire to destroy the object or subject... also known as you." Ron said, shrugging his shoulders.

"Gee, thanks Ron. Now I feel so much better..." Harry said, looking at Ron in disbelieve. Severus looked confused.

"Potions class... I was your teacher?"

"Yes, you were. And you had either me, Ron, Hermione or Neville - especially Neville - to remark on. Or actually, you pick on us." Harry said. They had managed to transfigure themselves a couple of chairs before sitting down on it. Severus merely watched with interest.

"Amazing.. Hold on.. Neville?"

"Neville Longbottom... your 'favourite' student." Ron said, chuckling as Harry shook his head, smilling.

"Neville Longbottom... Harry Potter... Ron Weasley... Hermione.. - Hermione?" he asked. Hermione gave sad smile at him and place her right hand out for a handshake.

"Granger. Hermione Granger. You used to call me Ms Granger, or Ms Insufferable Know-It-All." Hermione laughed out sadly. Severus just stare at her hand before putting his on hers and gave her a handshake. Just as soon as their hands touch, Severus felt a jolt of electricity go through his body and he flinched but he didn't pull his hand away. He frowned but just looked straight into Hermiones' eyes. Those eyes... He remember those eyes. They were warm and tender.. and loving. He remember the eyes..

Hermione pull back her hand when she saw that Severus was acting weird again. He had a questionable look in his eyes. His dark eyes which once held the power of knowledge and sense of wisdom.. was now replace with fear, questions... lost. Hermione managed to wipe a stray tear falling down her cheek before she smiled at Severus. He seemed to be looking into her eyes - her soul. She looked straight into his and felt the same warmth they used to have when they were together...

"Your eyes... I remember your eyes..." Severus said, tilting his head to his side, moving closer to Hermione, looking deeper into her eyes. Hermione held on her breath when Severus raised his hand and touch her cheek. She closed her eyes and felt the touch do wonders to her. She shivered when he pulled back his hand and slowly fluttered her eyes open. Severus frowned and went on staring at her.

Ron cleared his throat.

Both Severus and Hermione snapped out of their trances and turned to Ron. He merely gave a smug look, his hands in his pocket and turned to Harry. Harry on one hand, took out a vial from his pocket and handed it to Hermione. She grabbed it and unstoppered the head before giving it to Severus, who gave her a second look.

"Its a potion we three have been making. It helps you to remember and recover faster. That way you can be yourself again..." Hermione paused before she whispered,".. we can be together again..."

Severus's face softened a little before grabbing the vial and gulped it down in one go. He winced at the taste and stuck out his tongue.

"Crap, what was that??" he said, causing all three of them to laugh out loud. He merely scowled at them and place the bottle at the bedside table.

"Oh look, at least he didn't forget how to scowl, Mione." Ron said, causing Harry to chuckle. It took about a few seconds before Severus felt his eyes drooping heavily and he fell back and started to snore softly. Ron shook his head in disbelieve before all three of them went out the door and closed it.

"You know, I can't believe it I would say this and I quote -'can't believe it', but I really miss the old Snape."